STX Pan Ocean Orders LNG Carrier

STX Pan Ocean has ordered a LNG carrier from Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction. The 153,000 cubic meter vessel will be built at a cost of $215m. Delivery is expected before 2010. STX Pan Ocean recently reported a 71 percent jump in full-year earnings to $279.8m on a 20 percent increase in sales to $2.7b. Profits had been driven by a strong growth in its core dry bulk shipping business. (Source: Channel News Asia)